The setting was more Jesse Pinkman than Walter White, but that didn’t matter to “Breaking Bad” star Bryan Cranston – or anyone at the Above & Beyond show during this weekend’s dance-music festival Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas.

On Saturday, right before the British DJs kicked into their 2013 track “Walter White,” Heisenberg himself walked onstage to introduce the song in the best way possible:

“Say my name,” growled Cranston. “You’re goddamn right!” uttering two of his iconic character’s most famous lines. But instead of instilling fear and terror into the hearts of the audience, the Emmy winner raised the energy level to stratospheric heights. Read More »

Ever since sending Walter White on a permanent trip to Belize in last year’s “Breaking Bad” finale, Bryan Cranston has slipped into LBJ’s extended earlobes, a seedy pawn-shop-owner’s pornstache and major-league baseball’s coveted uniforms all for the sake of his art. But none of these roles have come as close to his Emmy Award-winning performances as a lethal New Mexico meth cook than his audio book portrayal of an exasperated father begging his child to eat.

Like Samuel L. Jackson, who narrated the bedtime-reading sensation “Go the F— to Sleep,” Cranston hardly treads lightly during his recitation of “You Have to F—ing Eat,” Adam Mansbach‘s latest contribution to the profanity-laced children’s book oeuvre. Read More »

Emmy Award-winning actor and “Breaking Bad” star Aaron Paul followed in his co-star Bryan Cranston‘s footsteps yesterday when he took to Twitter to voice his own dismay over Toys ‘R’ Us‘ decision to pull a line of ‘Breaking Bad’ action figures from its stores’ shelves.

In a series of thought-provoking tweets, Paul called out the toy mega-retailer for its arguably hypocritical choices, raising the question of what is more damaging to children, an action figure with a “bag of meth” accessory, or a historically popular doll criticized for placing pressure on girls to achieve unrealistic physical standards: Read More »

AMC released a new teaser from the coming show “Better Call Saul,” which is a prequel to “Breaking Bad.” The 10-second clip, called “Amen,” includes a line suggesting Saul, played by Bob Odenkirk, has at least a few pious bones in his body.

The series, which is scheduled to begin early next year, is set before Saul began working with crystal meth kings Walter White (Bryan Cranston) and Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul). Also returning with Odenkirk is Jonathan Banks as fixer and hired heavy Mike Erhmantraut. Read More »

Over 10 million viewers saw the story of Walter White come to its inevitable—necessary–conclusion. And now the final episode of “Breaking Bad“ could change the way that audiences and writers think about the narrative structure of episodic television. We were given what Aristotle had always demanded: a story that is “serious, complete and of a certain magnitude. “

It is this issue of “completeness” that has eluded episodic television.—Can a multi- year, 50+ episode arc have a beginning, middle and end? The answer up until now has pretty much always been “No.”

Television show-runners and executives, however, are facing the reality that they no longer have control over how an audience experiences the unfolding stories they tell. The phenomenon of binge-watching television shows has made a new narrative structure necessary. Read More »

When I think back on “Felina,” the series finale of “Breaking Bad,” of all the moments available to me – the red dots fixed on Gretchen and Elliott, the ricin swirling and dissolving into Lydia’s tea, the dingy kitchen separating Walter White and Skyler, or Nazi Jack’s blood splashed onto the camera lens – the one I’m most likely to recall, the one that makes me happiest, is the warm and gilded sight of Jesse Pinkman crafting and caressing a wooden box.

This was, of course, a reference to the box that Jesse built in a shop class, which he sold for an ounce of weed rather than give to his mother.

Throughout the series we’ve been treated to stylized depictions of Jesse’s brain. In the early seasons it was stripper and drug fueled montages, which, by the end, morphed into catatonic-stares at scurrying roaches. At first glance the allusion was obvious enough: Jesse as carpenter. Jesus was a carpenter. Jesus was sacrificed. Jesse will be sacrificed. And so on.

But Jesse didn’t die. In the end he was the one who got away. And he was smiling. Read More »

The “Breaking Bad“ finale has finally arrived on AMC. But rest assured, Walter White‘s southwest meth odyssey likely won’t end “Sopranos“-style with “Don’t Stop Believin’” and a sudden cut to black. Fortunately, your friendly neighborhood denizens of the WSJ‘s Speakeasy blog are live blogging the “Breaking Bad” finale. Tune in for an occasional break from the tension and some instant analysis. Follow along and leave your thoughts in the comments. Be sure to keep your snow globes handy…

After five seasons, countless meth cooks and the transformation of Walter White into TV’s reigning monster, “Breaking Bad” will end on Sunday, September 29–but how? The show’s creators have set up looming questions about morality and redemption, family and fate. Of course, everything hinges on the more pressing matter of who will live or die among the show’s shrinking circle of core characters.

With all sorts of “Breaking Bad” speculations flying online, we want to hear your pet theories. What do you predict will happen in the final episode? And if you were in control of the show, how would you choose to wrap things up? We’ll publish a selection of your scenarios on Speakeasy and in a coming issue of The Wall Street Journal. Read More »

Two weeks ago, actress and singer Patti LuPone grabbed a cell phone out of the hand of an audience member who was texting during a performance of her current play, "Shows for Days." The bold move led to an outpouring of support from fans fed up with glowing screens. Ms. LuPone gives us her five rules of theater etiquette.